Vertical retort for the carbonization of coal and the like



March 2,1937. F. J. WEST ET AL 2,072,392

VERTICAL RETORT FOR THE CARBONIZATION OF COAL AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 17, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 2, 1937. F J W ET AL 2,072,392

VERTICAL RETORT FOR THE CARBONIZATION OF COAL AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 17, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F1 l.: 1Iii. I,.lv Ti ii r.

Mai'chz, 1937. F. J. WEST ET AL VERTICAL RETORT FOR THE CARBONIZATION OF CQAL AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 wwww w w &

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Q Q Q JE i March 2, 1937. F. J. WEST ET AL VERTICAL RETORT FOR THE CARBONIZATION COAL AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 1'7, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 nnnnnnnn Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES OFFIQE" VERTICAL RETORT FOR THE CARBGNIZA- i TION OF COAL AND THE LIKE ApplicationFebruary 17, 1933, Serial No. 657,288 In Great Britain March 12, 1932 1 Claim.

This invention relates to vertical retorts for the carbonization of coal and the like and has for its object to provide an improved method of working and improved means for carrying out such method, which will give a dense strong coke and which will avoid the discharge on to conveyors or the like of a glowing burning mass requiring quenching with water.

A further object of the invention is to avoid escape of large volumes of gas from the carbonizing chamber when a new charge is being introduced therein and to economize in the time taken for carbonizing and steaming so that the output capacityof the plant can be increased.

The invention comprises a vertical retort for the carbonization of coal and the like having carbonization, intermediate and cooling zones, the latter having steam inlets thereto and comprising a coke discharge chamber equal in coke capacity to one half or other aliquot part of the cooling zone capacity, the cooling zone being proportioned to hold the coke from a complete charge in the carbonization zone, the arrangement being such that it takes two or more emptyings of the coke discharge chamber to discharge the contents of the cooling zone, which is equivalent to the coke resulting from the carbonization zone, whilst the contents of the intermediate zone are at the bottom of the coke discharge chamber above the discharge door When the hot coke from the carbonization zone is dropped into said chamber, the said intermediate zone always containing hot carbonized material so as to ensure constant water gas reaction during the whole period of carbonization. I

Referring to the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional. elevation of the lower portion of a retort with coke discharging means, all arranged in one convenient form in accordance with this invention. The coke discharge means are shown in their closed position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the parts in position to effect coke discharge.

Figures 3-6 show the various stages in a complete cycle of operations of our improved plant.

Figures 7 and 8 are sectional views at right angles to one another showing two modifications of the coke discharge chamber.

Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views at right angles to one another showing a further modification of the coke discharge chamber.

The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.

A is the carbonization zone of the retort b which is surrounded in that zone by combustion or heating chambers c. B we term the intermediate zone, and C the cooling zone, the latter zone being adapted to be divided into two parts by a gate or valve d attached to the hinged wall e and operated by the pinion f and rack g as hereinafter described. The hinged wall e (the-hinge point being at h) moves within agas tight fixed casing i. The gate or valve 01 and the rack and, pinion operating the same are also enclosed within a gas tight casing a so that gas escape between the hinged wall and the gate or valve and the retort is prevented. At the base of the cooling zone is a discharge door is which is turned about its point m to close the said base as shown in Fig ure 1, or to open it to permit coke discharge as shown in Figure 2. Upon the said door, which has a curved surface at n and a straight surface at o, rests one end of a protector plate p pivoted v at h and having a roller or rollers q on its underside to ride on the discharge door. Steam is admitted to the cooling zone by the pipes 1" and s, but we may admit steam at various points in such zone. The part of the latter below the valve or gate 01 we will call thecoke discharge chamber.

The coke discharge chamber constitutes one half of what we term the cooling zone C and is capable of receiving one half of the quantity of coke resulting from the carbonization of a charge in the carbonization zone A. a

It follows therefore that when a retort including carbonization, intermediate and cooling zones is full, two discharges of the contents of the coke chamber will always leave suificient coke in the retort to fill both the intermediate and cooling zones. This is of importance as the lower portion of coke from the intermediate zone serves as a relatively cool shield for the protector plate 17 and discharge door It, when the hot coke in the carbonization zone is ultimately deposited in the cooling and intermediate zones for steaming, cooling and final discharge. Further, when a new charge is fed into the retort, there will always be a layer of carbonized material from the intermediate zone to receive it.

The employment of a short coke discharge chamber relatively to the total length of the cooling zone is also of great importance because it limits the extent of the fall of the coke when the valve or gate d is opened and thereby limits the pressure set up in the air, vapour or gas which may be trapped in the coke discharge chamber.

It also limits the volume of such air and so the extent of any rapid combustion and disturbance which such air may cause. In addition, al-

though there are intermittent deliveries from the coke chamber, the steaming of the completely carbonized coke in the zones B and C is carried on simultaneously with further carbonization in the zone A, so that considerable economy of time results. Further, the valve or gate (1 prevents entry of air to the retort whilst discharge takes place from the coke discharge chamber, which is a considerable advantage in comparison with usual designs of intermittent retorts.

Reference will now be made to the sequence of operations in the plant and for this purpose Figures 3-6 will be described.

In Figure 3, the complete retort (comprising the carbonization zone A, the intermediate zone B and the cooling zone C) is full. The zone A contains hot completely carbonized coal, the zone B some hot coke and the zone C cool coke. The hinged wall e and the valve or gate (2 thereon are moved to cut the coke discharge chamber off from communication with the remainder of the cooling zone C and to enlarge the coke discharge chamber, so that the coke therein will not be held up by the sides of the chamber but will fall freely on to the plate p when the discharge door is opened. This position of the parts when discharge is taking place from the coke chamber is shown in Figure 4. Steaming may continue during all the stages of operation, the quantity of steam admitted'being controlled to suit the conditions, being for example a minimum in the Figures 3 and 4 conditions and a maximum in the conditions shown in Figure 8 to be hereinafter referred to. After the contents of the coke chamber have been discharged, the wall e and valve orgate d are returned to their original positions and the discharge door is is closed. If desired the latter may not be completely closed in order to permit air to escape from the coke chamber during the descent of the next charge from the upper portion of the cooling zone. The relatively cool lower portion of coke from the intermediate zone is now in the space immediately above that which will be occupied by the valve or gate d when it is again closed and so acts to protect such valve or gate from the hot carbonized coal from the retort. The contents of the coke chamber are again discharged, and vigorous steaming and cooling of the hot coke which is above the valve or gate d commences. When the discharge is completed, the wall e and door 'd are again moved to charge the coke discharge chamber afresh. The coke from the intermediate zone now rests on the plate 17. A new charge of coal is fed into the carbonization zone (see Figure 6) and carbonization and steaming proceed simultaneously until carbonization is completed, when the cycle of operations is repeated. As the intermediate zone always contains hot carbonized material, the water-gas reaction can proceed continuously and even when there is a new charge of coal above such zone.

The steam which is admitted to the zone C effects the cooling of the coke therein, but it is converted into water gas in the intermediate zone where the necessary temperature is maintained by heat from the lowest combustion chamber c.

If desired, the capacity of the coke extractor chamber may be adjustable to ensure the maintenance within the retort after the cooling space has been charged, of sufiicient hot carbonized material to fill the predetermined intermediate zone which isolates the carbonizing from the cooling portions of the retort. This modification is illustrated in Figure 7 wherein the opposite walls t, u of the coke discharge chamber are pivotally supported at their upper ends and adjustable at their lower ends by screws '0 which thread through plates 11) constituting fixed nuts in the casing i. In Figures 9 and 10, the pivot point h of the wall e is made adjustable by means of the screw h and the top of the wall is attached at I1 to the valve or gate d. This arrangement permits of adjustment of the capacity of the coke discharge chamber. The protective plate 10 is in this case carried by a separate fixed pivot p As illustrated in Figure 8, we may provide inwardly projecting baifie plates :1: which serve to break or retard the fall of the coke when it is being dropped into the coke discharge chamber.

In accordance with this invention, there are two or more discharges from the coke chamber for each charging of the retort, and when carbonization is taking place, the retort is full throughout its length including the coke chamber, carbonization and steaming going on simultaneously. With this method of working the Whole of the coke discharged from the retort is in a cool condition, so that quenching is unnecessary. Further the heat of all the coke in the retort is utilized for making water gas and so contributes to the gas making process. The use of the protective plate p in the bottom of the coke extractor chamber shields the discharge door lc against abrasion when it is being opened.

We claim:

In a tubular vertical retort for the continuous carbonization of coal and like carbonaceous material, superposed combustion or heating chambers around the upper portion of the retort for heating the latter to carbonize the material therein, a movable gate having an upright wall hinged at the bottom of the retort and adapted to cut off the lower portion of the retort from the upper portion thereof, a fixed casing surrounding said wall providing sealing from the atmosphere, the said cut-off portion being by volume less than one-half and not an aliquot part of the unheated section of the retort, means injecting steam into the cut-off portion and into the other part of the unheated section of the retort, and a discharge door at the base of the retort for discharging the contents of the cutoff portion when the gate at the top thereof is closed, said movable gate being integral with said upright wall, the closing of the gate and the consequent movement of the upright wall enlarging the cut-off portion of the retort to facilitate coke discharge.

FREDERICK JOSEPH WEST. ERNEST WEST. 

